Printing machines



June 23, 1964 J. A. MAUL PRINTING MACHINES 11 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 6, 1961 INVENTOR. BY JOHN A. MAUL m fillL June 23, 1964 J. A. MAUL PRINTING MACHINES ll Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 6, 1961 INVENTOR.

JoHN A. MAUL' June 23, 1964 J. A. MAUL ll Sheets-Sheet 5 will JNVENTOR. BY JOHN A. MAUL MW M ww PH? g5- June 23, 1964 J. A. MAUL 3,138,091

PRINTING MACHINES Filed March 6, 1961 ll Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR.

BY JOHN A. MAUL 11 Sheets-Sheet 5 t June 23, 1964 J. A. MAUL PRINTING MACHINES Filed March 6. 1961 Y JOHN A. MAUI.

'IIIIIIIIIIIIIIA June 23, 1964 J. A. MAUL PRINTING MACHINES 11 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed March 6. 1961 INVENTOR. JOHN A. MAUL M Eii TMQ June 23, 1964 .1. A. MAUL PRINTING MACHINES ll Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed March 6, 1961 INVENTOR.

By JOHN A. MAUL MW M M June 23, 1964 J. A. MAUL 3, 3 ,091

PRINTING MACHINES Filed March 6. 1961 ll Sheets-Sheet 9 9. INVENTOR. .i]'\ JOHN A. MAUL 3/5 MM M /6 June 23, 1964 J. A. MAUL 3,138,091

PRINTING MACHINES Filed March 6, 1961 ll Sheets-Sheet 1O INVENTOR. JOHN A. MAUL June 23, 1964 Filed March 6. 1961 J. A. MAUL PRINTING MACHINES BY m,

11 Sheets-Sheet l1 INVENTOR. JOHN A. MAUL.

HEEL 5 United States Patent Ofi ice 3,138,091 Patented June 23., 1964 3,138,091 PRINTING MACHINES John A. Maul, Lyndhurst, Ohio, assignor to Addressograph-Multigraph Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 6, 1961, Ser. No. 93,271 17 Claims. (Cl. 101-45) This invention relates to printing machines and particularly to hand-operated printing machines wherein data are printed from individual printing devices position able in the machine. This application is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No. 849,015, filed October 27, 1959, now abandoned.

Printing machines of this general type are widely utilized in retail credit sales systems to print data identifying the individual involved in each sales transaction on a suitable record form.

In retail credit sales systems such as those widely utilized in automotive service stations, each customer may be given a printing device which is embossed with identifying data usually including the name, address, and account number of the customer. At the conclusion of a sale of gasoline or other products on credit, the printing device is mounted in a printing machine. A record form, which generally includes multiple, duplicate forms separated by carbon papers, is then placed over the printing device and a movable printing head is moved into printing position over the form. A platen roller, carried by the printing head, is then rolled over the upper surface of the form with sufficient force to imprint an image on the upper surface of the form. Simultaneously, duplicate images are imprinted on the inner sheets of the form by the carbon paper. Subsequently, the form is removed from the printing ma: chine, one copy is given to the customer, and one or more copies are retained by the retailer.

The forms representing many such individual transactions are collected and sorted so that the slips representing a series of such transactions by any one customer are grouped together. The monetary amount owed by the customer is periodically computed from these forms for the preparation of bills which are forwarded to the customer.

Heretofore the printing machines employed for sales systems and similar applications have not been capable of printing the monetary amount of the transaction on the record forms. It has been necessary to write the monetary amount on the form, either before or after the printing operation. As a result, the legibility of the monetary figure has been dependent on the penmanship of the writer, resulting in errors in the interpretation of the amount, both by the customer and by the person reviewing the form to prepare the customers bill. It is therefore a primary object of this invention to make possible, in a machine of the foregoing kind, the simultaneous printing of data obtained from a printing device and of variant data representative of monetary amounts. It is a related object to include a control panel, as a part of such a printing machine, that makes selection of the monetary amount both convenient and accurate.

At the present time scanning systems are available which utilize images printed in code form as signal sources for actuating sorting mechanisms or computing mechanisms. Such scanning systems are capable of automatically sorting many record forms into individual groups corresponding to individual customer accounts. Systems of this kind are also capable of scanning printed code data and converting the same to other forms, such as conventional punched hole data, to be used in automatically computing the total amounts represented by such forms in each individual account, provided the necessary data have been printed on the form in a code form which can be utilized in the scanning system. While the individual account identifying data may be directly printed in a convenient manner from data. embossed on each customers individual printing device, it is impractical to attempt to write codified data, representing the monetary amount of the transaction, manually. It is another object of this invention, therefore, to incorporate in a printing machine of the general type described, a mechanism for printing codified data representing the monetary amount of the transaction directly on a record form.

It is another object of this invention, related to the foregoing objects, to associate With the variable-data printing mechanism additional apparatus which affords a clear visual indication of the amount that is to be printed, whether this amount is in numeral form or code form, or both, to thereby reduce the chances of inadvertently printing an incorrect amount on the record form.

In a preferred form of printing machine utilized for credit transactions and similar applications, the printing head is pivotally mounted on the base of the machine and is movable toward and away from a printing position. Any shifting of the printing head away from printing position, during a printing operation, may prevent the attainment of the requisite accuracy in location of the printed matter on a record form. Accordingly, it is a related object of the invention to latch the printing head automatically to the base of the printing machine whenever the printing head is moved to its printing position and to release the printing head automatically upon completion of a printing operation.

Where the printed form is to be subject to machine reading, it is frequently highly important that the printed matter be located at a predetermined position on the record form, in addition to the requirement that all parts of the printed matter be accurately aligned with respect to each other. To this end, it is important to prevent any shifting of the record form during the printing operation. It is equally important to afford some means for locating the record form accurately on the base of the printing machine prior to the printing operation. The present invention includes means for attaining both of these objects without interfering in any way with the operation of the printing mechanism. 7

Accordingly, the present invention relates to a printing machine including a base affording a support for a printing device bearing data to be printed. A printing head is mounted on this base and includes a platen that is movable along a predetermined path in the printing head to imprint the data from the printing device on a form interposed between the base and the printing head. Preferably, the printing head is pivotally mounted on the base and is movable between a printing position and a non-printing position, sometimes referred to as an inactive position. The machine further includes means, mounted in the base, affording selectively variable data that is also imprinted on the form; this means comprises a plurality of rotatable type wheels eachincluding a plurality of printing elements spaced about the periphery of the wheel and a plurality of detent-receiving recesses interposed between adjacent printing elements. Manually operable selector means are provided for rotating the wheels individually to present selected printing elements for printing. Alignment means are employed to engage an alignment bar or other suitable element with correspondingly positioned recesses in all of the wheels, conjointly, to align the selected printing elements accurately with respect to one another. In the preferred form of the invention, a pre-alignment mechanism is also provided to insure reasonably close alignment of the type wheels and their selected printing elements prior to actuation of the precision alignment means. Furthermore, in the preferred embodiment, a jogging gauge is employed to position the record form accurately on the base of the machine, this jogging gauge being actuated by movement of the printing head from its inactive position to its printing position.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show preferred embodiments of the present invention and the principles thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying these principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printing machine constructed in accordance with one embodiment of this invention, showing the printing head in an elevated, nonprinting position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the machine illustrated in FIG. 1, but with a top cover and a form mounting fixture removed;

FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the machine illustrated in FIG. 1, but with the top cover and the form mounting fixture removed;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the machine illustrated in FIG. 1, but with the printing head latched in a printing position;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevation view, in section, taken in the direction of the arrows 5-5 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a detail view showing component parts of the latch assembly and taken in the direction of the arrows 6--6 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an elevation view, in section, taken in the direction of the arrows 77 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an elevation view, in section, taken in the direction of the arrows 88 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a code wheel mechanism which is utilized to print a monetary amount;

FIG. 9A is a bottom view of a portion of the code wheel mechanism of FIG. 9;

FIG. 10 is an elevation view, partially cut away, of the mechanism shown in plan in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an elevation view, in section, taken in the direction of the arrows 11-11 in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is an end elevation view of the mechanism shown in plan in FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is a plan view of a keyboard control panel which is utilized to print a monetary amount;

FIG. 14 is an elevation view, in section taken in the direction of the arrows 14-14 in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is an elevation view, in section, taken in the direction of the arrows 1515 in FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary elevation view, in section, taken in the direction of the arrows 1616 in FIG. 13;

FIG. 17 is an end elevation view, partly broken away, of the control panel illustrated in FIG. 13;

FIG. -18 is a plan view of a form utilized with the printing machine illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 19 is a plan view of an anvil included in the printing machine illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 19A is a fragmentary enlarged view of a portion of the anvil illustrated in FIG. 19;

FIG. 20 is an elevation view of the anvil illustrated in FIG. 19 and showing a printing plate mounted thereon;

FIG. 20A is a fragmentary enlarged view, partly in section, of a part of the anvil and printing plate illustrated in FIG. 20;

FIGS. 21-24, respectively, are plan, left end elevation, side elevation, and right end elevation views of a flexi- 4 ble retainer utilized with the anvil and plate illustrated in FIG. 20; 1

FIG. 25 is a plan view of a printing plate;

FIG. 25A is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the printing plate illustrated in FIG. 25;

FIG. 26 is a plan view of the base of a printing machine constructed in accordance with a modified embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 27 is a bottom view of the machine base illustrated in FIG. 26;

FIG. 28 is a sectional view, drawn to an enlarged scale, taken along line 2828 in FIG. 26, illustrating the initial stages in operation of a form-locating means incorporated in the embodiment of FIG. 26; and

FIG. 29 is a sectional view, similar to FIG. 28, showing the final stage of operation of the form-locating means.

FIGS. 1-4 illustrate one embodiment of a printing machine constructed in accordance with this invention. In these figures the printing machine is indicated generally by the reference numeral 31 and comprises a base 32 and a printing head 33. One end of the printing head 33 is pivotally mounted on the base 32 for movement into and out of a printing position on the base. In FIGS. 1-3, the printing head is shown in an elevated, nonprinting position, While in FIG. 4 the printing head is shown in its lower, printing position.

The base 32 includes a rigid frame member 34, as best illustrated in FIGS. 2-4, which is preferably formed as a unitary casting with stiffening webs, such as the web 36 (FIG. 3) formed integral therewith. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the base 32 also includes a top cover 37 which is attached to the frame 34 by suitable means such as self-tapping screws (not visible in FIG. 1) which are threaded into cast holes in bosses 38 and 39 as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3. A formmounting fixture 41 (FIG. 1) is mounted on the frame member 34 by conventional means such as the cap screws 42, which are threaded within internally tapped openings 43 in the frame member as illustrated in FIG. 3.

As best shown in FIG. 1, a printing station, indicated generally by the reference numeral 44, is disposed generally medially between the sides of the base and somewhat above the central portion of the base. The printing station 44 is bounded by a corner bracket 46 which projects upwardly from the form-mounting fixture 41, by an upwardly projecting guide piece 47, and by a pair of gauge members 48 and 49, each of which is retained on the form-mounting fixture 41 by the same cap screws 42 which mount the form-mounting fixture 41 on the frame 34. The corner bracket 46, the guide piece 47, and the upwardly curved ends of the gauge members 48 and 49 coact with the edges of a form to be printed, such as that indicated generally by the reference numeral 51, in FIG. 18, to retain the form in a desired position at the printing station 44.

The form-mounting fixture 41 may have another gauge member 51 mounted thereon; the gauge member 51 includes a pair of arm members 51A and 51B that extend toward corner mounts such as 52 and 53 which project upwardly from the form-mounting fixture. Thus, a printing device like the plate or card 54 shown in FIG. 1 may be retained in position between the upwardly curved end portions of the arms 51A and 51B and a corresponding pair of corner mounts 52 or 53. It will be apparent that the respective corner mounts 52 and 53 enable two different size printing devices to be positioned at this location in the printing station.

The mounting arrangement afforded by the arm members 51A and 52B and a pair of the corner mounts 52 and 53 is effective to position the printing device 54 over a first anvil assembly which comprises an anvil 56, shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The anvil 56 is preferably supported for vertical movement within the frame member 34 by a suspension, comprising a pair of parallel cantilever springs, that enables the anvil assembly to compensate automatically for variations in thickness between different printing devices which may be utilized in the printing machine 37. One of these springs, spring 57, is visible in FIGS. 2 and 3. This anvil suspension is described and claimed in the co-pending application of John A. Maul, Serial No. 672,455, filed July 17, 1957, now Patent No. 2,909,998.

A second anvil assembly, which includes an anvil 50, is disposed immediately adjacent the anvil 56 and is likewise suspended by a pair of cantilever leaf springs, one of which, spring 59 is visible in FIGS. 2 and 3. While the anvil 56 is adapted to support a different printing device for each individual customer, the anvil 55 is adapted to support a printing device such as a plate 61 which bears embossed or relief data identifying the company making the sale. Thus, the plate 61 may be retained on the anvil 58 semi-permanently, since this printing device bears repetitive printing data, which is the same for successive transactions. Preferably, the plate 61 is retained in positioned on the anvil 58 by flexible retainer means which enable the plate to be conveniently snapped into and out of position on the anvil, yet which securely retain the plate on the anvil during operation of the printing machine.

A preferred form of anvil, which incorporates such flexible retainer means, and a printing plate adapted to be utilized therewith are illustrated in FIGS. 1925A. In FIG. 19 it is seen that the anvil 58 is formed with a pair of spaced apertures 301, each of which is adapted to serve as a socket for a resilient retainer element 302, the element 302 being illustrated in greater detail in FIGS. 21- 24. The retainer element 302 is preferably formed from molded Zytel resin, or other similar types of nylon material. As illustrated in FIGS. 2l24, the retainer 302 has a pair of planar sides interconnected by a pair of arcuately curved sides and comprises a tapered end portion 303, a shank portion 304 of reduced diameter, and a flange portion 305 at the end opposite the tapered end 303. The retainer 302 is also formed with a longitudinally extending bore 306 of generally circular configuration but which is bounded by arcuately curved and longitudinally inclined surfaces 307 in the portions of the element which are bounded on the exterior by the arcuately curved peripheral surfaces. This bore 306 enables the side walls of the element to be flexibly deformed for a purpose presently to be described. A spacer member or pad 308 is formed underneath the flange 305 and extends for a short distance in both circumferential and longitudinal directions along the periphery of the shank portion 304. It should be noted that the larger part of the tapered end 303 is of a sligthly larger diameter than the shank portion 304 so as to provide a pair of flat surfaced, arcuately curved lips 309 at the juncture of the tapered end 303 and the shank 304.

With particular reference to FIG. 19A it is seen that the apertures 301 in the anvil 50 have a configuration complementary to the shank portion of the flexible retainer element 302. Thus, each aperture 301 includes a pair of parallel surfaces 301P and a pair of arcuately curved surfaces 301C. The spacing between the parallel surfaces 3011 is preferably substantially the same as the corresponding width of the shank portion of the retainer element 302. However, the internal diameter of the arcuately curved surfaces 301C is preferably slightly less than the external diameter of the corresponding curved surfaces of the shank portions 304 of the retainer element.

A retainer element 302 is positioned within an aperture 301 by pressing the tapered end 303 downwardly through the aperture in a direction proceeding from the top to the bottom of the plate, as viewed in FIG. 20, until the spacer pad 308 abuts the upper surface 58U of the anvil. The distance between the spacer pad 303 and the li s 309 is so related to the thickness of the anvil 50 that the lips are able to flex radially outwardly to engage the lower surface 50L of the anvil about the periphery of the aperture 301P whenever the spacer pad 308 abuts the upper surface 58U. This position of the retainer element with respect to the anvil 58 is illustrated in enlarged detail in FIG. 20A. In this position of the retainer element 302 the lips 309 and spacer pads 308 maintain vertical alignment of the retainer element and the curved surfaces of the shank portion are frictionally engaged with the corresponding curved surfaces 301C of the anvil aperture by reason of the relationship of the relative diameters therebetween. This frictional engagement, as well as the parallel side surfaces of the retainer element and anvil aperture, effectively prevent any rotation of the retainer element within the aperture.

With reference now to FIGS. 25 and 25A, it is seen that the plate 61 is formed with the pair of recesses 311 in one edge thereof. The thickness of the plate 61 is just slightly less than the spacing between the flange 305 of the retainer element and the surface 58U of the anvil as maintained by the spacer pads 308 so that the plate 61 is slidable therebetween to the position illustrated in FIG. 20A. Each of the recesses 311, as best illustrated in FIG. 25A, includes a pair of parallel surfaces 311P and an arcuately curved surface 311C extending there between. The surface 311C is formed with an additional recess 312 which is adapted to receive a spacer pad 308. Each recess 311 also includes a pair of converging surfaces 313 which, in effect, define a passageway or throat T leading to an enlarged chamber C bounded by the surfaces 3111 and 311C. The surfaces 313 join with the surfaces 311? at smoothly rounded surfaces 314 which thus define a necked-down portion of the recess between the chamber C and the passageway T and form the peripheries of a pair of opposed lugs 310. These lugs 310 are effective to clasp a retainer element 302 within a recess 311 as will be apparent from the description which follows. The opposite ends of the surfaces 313 likewise are joined with the edge of the printing plate 61 in smoothly rounded surfaces 315.

To position the plate 61 on the anvil 58 the edge having the recesses 311 is slid beneath the flange 305 of each retainer element in a manner such that the shank portion 304 of the retainer is initially compressed within the guideway defined by the converging surfaces 313 and subsequently permitted to flex radially outwardly in the chamber defined by the surfaces 311P and 311C. Inasmuch as the spacing between the rounded surfaces 314 is less than the width of the shank portion 304 between the parallel side walls thereof, the lugs 310 serve to clasp the retainer elements 302 within the recesses 311 so as to maintain a desired positioning of the plate 61 on the anvil 58. However, the resilient nature of the retainers 302 enables the plate 61 to be readily removed should it be desired to replace the plate 61. The inner dimensions of the portion of each recess 311 defined by the surfaces 3111 and 311C may be substantially the same as the corresponding dimensions of the shank portion 304 of the retainer element.

With reference again to FIG. 20A it should be noted that the heightof the flange 305 is less than the height of the embossed type characters 317 formed in the printingplate-61 so that the flange 305 offers no interference to the printing of these type characters.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, the anvil 58 is of somewhat shorter overall length than the anvil 56. A series of dater wheels 62 are mounted Within the frame member 34 immediately adjacent the end of the anvil 58. These dater wheels may be independently rotated to position raised numerical type characters identifying the month, day, and year in a printing position in the printing station 44.

A series of selectively settable type members in the form of coded type wheels 63 are mounted within the frame member 34 adjacent the dater wheels 62 and the end of the anvil 56. Each of the type wheels 63 has a plurality of printing elements spaced about the periphery thereof. Each printing element includes a numerical character and a corresponding code character, as described in greater detail hereinafter. Each type wheel is independently rotatable to position a preselected numeral in a printing position at the printing station.

The means for rotating the code wheels include a control panel 64 and a plurality of tabulator keys 66 slidable within vertically extending slots 67 in the panel, as viewed in FIG. 3. Each tabulator key 66 is operatively connected to a corresponding code wheel by a rack and pinion mechanism which is described in greater detail with relation to FIGS. 9 through 11 of the drawings. A column of numerals is inscribed on the control panel 64 alongside each of the slots 67 so that the desired numeral on any one code wheel can be selected by positioning the corresponding key 66 opposite that numeral on the control panel.

Additionally, flexible indicator strips 68 are operatively connected to each of the tabulator keys 66 (FIGS.

2-4) and have numerals corresponding to the code Wheel I numerals inscribed on the upper surface of the strips. As shown in FIG. 1, the top cover 37 includes a series of windows 69 which permit observation of one numeral on each of these strips 68. The strips 63 are so connected to the tabulating keys 66 that movement of any one tabulator key is effective to position the preselected numeral within a window 69. Thus, the strip 68 and the window 69 permit a visual indication of the numeral selected to thereby lessen the possibility of inadvertently selecting an incorrect numeral.

The frame member 34 includes an integrally formed recess 71 which affords a bin for storing a number of forms 72 which are to have data printed thereon.

The frame member 34 also includes a pair of integrally formed lugs 73 and 74, best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3; these lugs project upwardly from the uppermost corner portions of the base. A rod extends between and is rotatably mounted in the lugs. The central portion of the rod 76 is of a square-shaped cross section, as are the end portions of the rod. A pair of blocks 77 and 78 are axially slidable on the portion of the rod intermediate the lugs 73 and 74; these blocks are provided with set screws which retain the blocks in the positions illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 to thereby position the rod 76 within the lugs 73 and 74.

The printing head 33 comprises an exterior frame which includes a pair of side members 79 and 81 connected together by a U-shaped channel member 82. As shown in FIG. 2, the lowermost end portions of the side plates are formed with square openings 83 and 84 which are received on the portions of the rod member 76 which project outwardly from the lugs 73 and 74. Thus, the printing head 33 is mounted for rotation with the rod 76. The top cover 37 may include a portion 37C (FIG. 1) which extends over the lugs 73 and 74 and the rod 76 to enhance the appearance of the printing machine.

Platen means are mounted within the printing head 33 and are manually movable within the head 33 and transversely across the printing station 44 to imprint the data presented at the printing station on a form 72 interposed between the head and the base of the machine. The platen means comprise a platen roller 86 of the porous, ink-impregnated type, or dry type, which is rotatably mounted within the lower end portions of the depending arms of a yoke 87 that is movable along the greater portion of the length of the channel member 82. The yoke is mounted within an exterior housing 88 of a handle assembly which includes an upwardly projecting handle 89.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and in particular, it is seen that the housing 88 is movable along a guide rail 91 which extends between the side plates 79 and 81. The guide rail is centrally mounted on the upper surface of the channel member 82 by a plurality of downwardly projecting bosses 92 which project through corresponding openings in the channel member, and which are retained thereby by suitable means such as the push nuts 93. As indicated in phantom outline in FIG. 5, wheels 94 are rotatably mounted internally of the housing 88 and support the housing and yoke from the upper surface of the guide rail 91.

A pair of mounting brackets 96 are welded or otherwise attached to the inner surfaces of the side plates 79 and 81 within the channel member 82. Each bracket includes an inwardly projecting tab in the lowermost end thereof which is formed with an internally threaded aperture 97, shown in phantom outline in FIG. 5. These brackets afford a mount for a template or mask 98 which is attached to those brackets by suitable means such as the fillet head cap screws 99, (see FIG. 1). The mask 98 is formed with cutouts 101 and 102 which correspond to the parts of the form 72 overlying the respective anvil and dater wheel assemblies and the code wheel assembly.

The printing head 33 includes latching means for latching the printing head to the printing machine base upon movement of the printing head to the lower, printing position. These latching means are so mounted within the printing head as to retain the printing head in its printing position until the platen roller is moved sufficiently far to complete the printing operation, whereupon any further movement of the platen roller is effective to disengage the latching means and thereby enable the printing head to return to the upper, non-printing position as illustrated in FIG. 1.

The latching means are shown in detail in FIGS. 5 through 8 of the drawings. A pair of pawl members 103 and 104 are pivotally mounted internally of the channel member 82 by respective pivot pins 106 and 107. With particular reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, it is seen that the pivot pins are fixed within the forwardmost flange 82L of the channel member and have portions of enlarged diameter which form collars 108 and 109 respectively. These collars abut the inner surface of the flange to prevent deformation or wobbling of the pins within the flange. The pawls 103 and 104 are maintained in abutting relation with the collars 108 and 109 by snap rings which are seated in grooves formed in the surfaces of the pivot pins. A bar 111 extends along the inner surface of the forwardmost depending flange 82L of the channel member 82 and includes a depending leg 111L which extends downwardly adjacent the pawl 104. The lower portion of the depending leg 111L is connected by a pin 112 to the pawl 104 at a point below the pivot pin 107. At its opposite end, the bar 111 is connected to the pawl 103 by a pin 113 disposed above the pivot pin 106. Thus, the bar 111 forms a linkage interconnecting the two pawl members. The bar 111 is provided with an enlarged opening 114 which encircles the collar 109 so as to permit movement of the bar in the direction indicated by the arrows BB in FIG. 6 and thereby enable the pawl members to be pivoted about the pivot pins 106 and 107 between the positions indicated by the bolt and phantom outlines in FIG. 6. A spring 115 is connected at its opposite ends to the inner end of the pivot pin 106 and to a lug 116 formed on the lower edge of the bar 111. The spring 115 pulls the bar 111 to the left, as viewed in FIG. 6, to bias the lowermost ends of the pawl members 103 and 104 toward the inner, latching positions illustrated in the bold outline of FIG. 6.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the frame 34 includes a pair of lugs 117 and 118 which are positioned to be engaged by the pawl members 103, 104 whenever the printing head 33 is moved downwardly to the printing position as illustrated in FIG. 4. The manner in which the pawl 104 latches with the lug 117 is illustrated in FIG. 6 in the bold outline. The upper surfaces of the lugs 117 and 118 are slightly beveled, as are the lower and inner edges of the pawl members 103 and 104 so that the lower ends of the pawl members are rotated outwardly by a camming action during downward movement of the printing head. Once the printing head is moved downwardly a sufficient distance, the spring 115 is efiective to bias the pawls 103 and 104 inwardly to the latched position illustrated in the bold outlines in FIG. 6. Thereafter the spring 115 is effective to retain the pawls, and therefore the printing head, in this position until the latching pawls are disengaged at the termination of the printing stroke of the platen roller.

Referring now to FIG. 5, it is seen that the roller platen 86 includes a central shaft 119 which is journaled within bushings 121 mounted within the ends of the yoke 87. A pair of rollers 122 and 123 are mounted on the shaft 119 adjacent the opposite ends of the platen roller 86. These rollers engage the lower edges of the depending flange portions of the channel member 82. The platen roller 86 is thus reciprocably movable along the channel 82 and is engageable With the inner vertically extending edges of the pawl members 103 and 104 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 6. Engagement of the platen roller 86 with a pawl member pivots the pawl member outwardly and simultaneously effects a similar pivoting movement of the opposite pawl member by reason of the resulting movement produced in the bar 111 interlinking the two pawl members. Thus, assuming that the platen roller assembly is moved to the right from a position adjacent the pawl member 103 to the position indicated in phantom outline in FIG. 6, in the process of imprinting a form positioned in the printing station, the platen roller 86 engages the pawl member 104, pivots the pawl member in a counterclockwise direction about the pivot pin 107, and moves the pawl member to the unlatched position indicated in the phantom outline. Simultaneously, the bar 111 is pulled to the right, as illustrated in FIG. 6, by the pin connection 112, rotating the pawl member 103 in a clockwise direction about the pivot pin 106 to the unlatched position illustrated by the phantom outline. Biasing means, described hereinafter are effective to move the printing head 33 upwardly upon release of the latch pawls 103, 104. The spring 115 then returns the pawls 103 and 104 to the positions shown in the bold outline. On a subsequent printing operation, the platen roller 86 may be moved in a leftward direction, as viewed in FIG. 6, to effect printing at the printing station. At the termination of the printing movement of the platen roller, the platen roller engages the inner edge of the pawl member 103 and thereby unlatches both pawl members. Thus, the platen roller may be moved either leftwardly or rightwardly, as viewed in FIG. 6, to effect printing and to automatically unlatch or release the printing head at the completion of each printing operation.

The biasing means for raising the printing head 33 upon completion of a printing operation comprises a spring 124 which is mounted on the rod 76 (FIGS. 2 and 3) and connected to exert a continuous biasing force on the printing head, urging the head 33 toward the upper, non-printing position. Thus, upon disengagement of the pawl members from the lugs 117 and 118 the spring 124 moves the printing head upwardly.

The variable data printing mechanism is illustrated in detail in FIGS. 9-12. The wheels designated generally by the reference numeral 63 are five in number, 63-1 to 63-5, and are disposed intermediate two frame plates 126 and 127 which are maintained in spaced relation by a plurality of spacer rods 128. These wheels are each rotatably mounted on a shaft 129 which is supported at opposite ends between frame plates 126 and 127. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, a snap ring 131 is seated within an annular groove in the portion of the shaft which projects outwardly beyond the frame plate 126. A washer 132 is interposed between the inner surface of the frame plate 126 and the code wheel 63-1, and a similar washer 133 is mounted on the shaft 129 adjacent the code wheel 63-5. The shaft 129 is formed with a reduced diameter portion at the end passing through the frame plate 127 and is threaded at the outer end of 10 this reduced diameter portion. A bushing 134 is mounted on this reduced diameter portion and a nut 136 is threaded on the outermost end of the shaft. The bushing 134 is formed with a recessed construction which affords an annular rim sufficiently larger than the large diameter portion of the shaft 129 as to be axially movable thereover for engaging the washer 133. Preferably, a push nut 137 is used to lock the threaded nut 136 in position. In assembling the wheels 63 on the shaft 129 the nut 136 is turned to compact all of the Wheels and then backed off just enough to allow the wheels to turn relative to each other. Subsequently, the push nut 137 is pressed on the shaft to lock the nut 136 in position.

The frame plate 127 includes four flange members 138 which are bent outwardly from the frame plate so as to be perpendicular thereto. These flanges are bolted by bolts 139 and nuts 141 to upper and lower C-shaped members 142 and 143 (FIG. 11) which are in turn afiixed to the frame member 34 by bolts 144 (FIG. 3). Thus, the code Wheel mechanism is readily installed as a unit in the base of the printing machine.

Each code wheel has a circular arrangement of gear teeth formed integrally therewith in a manner such as to form a pinion gear of smaller diameter than the periphery of the code wheel. One such gear, gear -5, is visible in FIG. 10. As viewed in FIG. 11, the code wheel 63-1 includes a continuous planar surface for engagement with the washer 132 and has a spur gear 135-1, as described immediately above, projecting from the opposite surface of the wheel. The adjacent code wheel 63-2 is formed with a recess 146 in the surface facing the code wheel 63-1. The recess 146 is of slightly larger diameter than the peripheral diameter of the teeth of the gear wheel 135-1 and the depth of the recess 14-6 is slightly less than the width of the pinion gear 135-1 so that the two wheels are spaced apart by a small gap 147. The code wheels 63-3, 63-4, and 64-5 are identical in construction to the code wheel 63-2 so that a gap is afforded between each code wheel and the peripheral portions of adjacent wheels. The washer 133 is of slightly larger diameter than the pinion gear formed on the code wheel 63-5 so that a gap 148 is formed therebetween.

With particular reference now to FIGS. 9, 9A and 10, it is seen that individual rack members 151-1 to 151-5 are disposed within the gaps formed between the code wheels 63-1 to 63-5 and in the gap between wheel 63-5 and the washer 133. Each of these rack members has a plurality of gear teeth 150 formed on an upper edge thereof and engageable with the gear teeth of a respective code wheel. Thus, the gear teeth on the rack member 151-5 are in mesh with the teeth on gear 135-5, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 10. The rack members 151 have lower edges which are slidable along the upper periphery of a spacer member 128, as viewed in FIG. 10, and are formed with longitudinally extending guide slots 152 which coact with a guide pin 153 extending between the portions of the frame plates 126 and 127 which are adjacent to the control panel 64. Thus, the teeth 150 are maintained in engagement with the code Wheel gears by the coaction of the rack members with the guide pin 153 and the spacer 128. The spacer members are received Within the gaps between the code wheels and are thus maintained in longitudinal alignment and spaced relation with one another. The left end of each rack member 151, as viewed in FIGS. 9 and 10, is formed with a generally T-shaped lug 154 to afford a convenient means to connect the rack member to the related tabulator key 66.

Each of the code wheels 63 has ten printing elements formed as flats on the outer periphery thereof and each of these flats is spaced from an immediately adjacent printing element flats by a V-shaped detent-receiving recess 156 which projects radially inwardly of the wheel.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, each printing element includes a numerical character and a corresponding code character. The uppermost printing element of each code wheel, as viewed in FIG. 10, bears the data that will be imprinted on a form during the printing operation. By individually rotating the separate code wheels, a composite series of type characters is afforded at the printing station for imprinting on the form, representing the monetary amount of a transaction in both numeral form and code form.

As described hereinabove, the monetary amount, or other variable data, may be selected by suitable positioning of the tabulator keys 66 within the slots 67 of the keyboard or control panel 64. The construction and operation of this control panel may best be understood by reference to FIGS. 13-17. The control panel comprises upper and lower housings 157 and 158 which mate along a line 159 and are connected one to another by suitable means such as the cap screws 160, as best illustrated in FIG. 15. The upper housing 157 includes a pair of elongated slotted recesses 161 which receive the heads of the cap screws 162 (FIG. 3). The slot-like formation of the recesses 161 enables the housing to be longitudinally positioned in the frame member 34 prior to tightening the cap screws 162 against the base faces of the recesses 161. As shown in FIG. 17, each housing has longitudinally extending webs 163 and 164 which mate together at the plane of the split line 159. These webs thus reinforce the central portion of the overall panel assembly and form channels therebetween.

The upper housing 157 is also provided with a plurality of downwardly projecting raceways 166 which are each formed with a modified sinusoidal curved lower edge, as best shown in FIG. 14. The lower housing 158 includes corresponding upwardly projecting raceways 167, each of which has an upper edge shaped in a modified sinusoidal curve. The crests and the troughs of the raceways 166 and 167 are vertically aligned in a manner such that the crest of one raceway is directly opposite a crest of the other raceway.

As viewed in FIGS. 16 and 17, a pair of slide members 168 and 169 are disposed intermediate the webs 163 and 164 in the respective upper and lower housings and are interlocked by lugs 16%). The upper slide memher 168 is formed with a bore 171 which extends vertically therethrough and which mounts a ball 172 therein (see FIG. 17). In like manner, the slide member 169 is formed with a bore 173 which mounts a ball 174 therein. The bores 171 and 173 are aligned one with the other and a coil spring 175 is disposed therein for biasing the balls 172 and 174 outwardly of the bores and into engagement with the respective raceways 166 and 167.

As viewed in FIG. 14, the upper and lower slide blocks 168 and 169 have elongated slotted apertures 181 and 182, respectively, extending vertically through the central portions of the respective slide blocks. A plate member, like the plate member 183-3, is mounted within these apertures by a leaf spring 184 which is passed through an opening 186 in the plate member in a manner such that the ends of the spring 184 are supported on a concavely recessed surface in the upper face of the slide block 168. The center portion of the spring abuts the upper edge of the opening 186 to bias the plate member in an upward direction. The lower end portion of each plate member is of greater width than the portion received within the apertures 131 and 182, providing shoulders abutting the lower surface of the slide block 169. The key members 66 are preferably formed of nylon and are molded with internal sockets, as illustrated in FIG. 14, enabling the key members to be pressed on the rounded knobs 66K formed at the ends of the plate members.

The upper and lower slide blocks 168 and 169 are provided with vertically projecting key elements 187 and 188, respectively, which are received within the slots 67 and 189 of the control panel to maintain the slide blocks 12 aligned within the chambers defined between the webs 163 and 164.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that movement of any of the individual keys 66 along the column of numerals inscribed on the control panel effects a like movement of a slide block assembly within the control panel housings and that the spring 175 enables the roller balls to be continuously engaged with the corrugated surfaces of the raceways. The troughs of the raceways are vertically aligned with the numerals inscribed on the surface of the panel and the spring 175 biases the balls in such troughs to act as a positioning means for retaining the key 66 at any selected numeral.

The lower ends of the plate members 183 extend beyond the slots 189 in the lower housing, and the lower edge of each plate member is formed with a cutout 191 which is adapted to hook onto a corresponding T-shaped lug 154 on one of the rack members 151 (FIGS. 9 and 10). As shown in FIG. 17, the two outer plate members on either side of the center plate member 1833 are bent inwardly and then downwardly so as to match the spacing between the ends of the rack members.

As mentioned hereinabove, the indicator strips 68 are connected for movement with the keys 66. Referring now to FIGS. 14 and 15, the lower housing 158 is seen to have a flange portion 192 which projects forwardly and upwardly from the lower housing. This flange portion 192 is formed with a plurality of spaced-apart fingers 193, as best shown in FIG. 13, and the fingers 193 define slots 194 therebetween. The width of the slots 194 is somewhat greater than the width of the strips 68 so that the strips may be readily passed therethrough. A pair of clamping strips 196 and 197 (FIG. 14) are mounted on the underside of the flange 192 by cap screws 198. These strips extend transversely across the width of the flange and clamp one end of each of the strips 68 therebetween. The strips 68 each pass through an opening 199 in a rearward end of the control panel and are hooked onto one of the lugs 166, (see FIG. 16) which interlock the upper and lower slide blocks. The flexible strips 68 are preferably of Mylar film or similar material which tend to coil tightly about the clamping strips 196 and 197. Thus, any movement of a key 66 is effective to move a strip 68 beneath a window 69 as illustrated in FIG. 1.

The balls 172 and 174, in conjunction with the corrugated surfaces of the raceways 166 and 167, are effective to position a printing element 170, on each code wheel at the printing station. It should be noted that it is not essential to utilize two ball detents. For example, the ball element 174 may be omitted and a smooth bearing surface substituted for the serpentine surface 167; and effective indexing operation is still accomplished. With either one or two ball detents, however, it is possible that the flat surface bearing the printing element may be slightly canted from a plane extending parallel with the axis of the platen roller. The printing machine therefore incorporates means for accurately aligning each of the code wheels with one another and with the platen roller to insure printing of the desired monetary amount or other variable data, in both code and numeral form, in a clear and accurate manner. These means comprise a bail bar or detent 201 (FIGS. 9 and 10) which is insertable within the detent-receiving recesses 156 on the adjacent code wheels to align each of these wheels, accurately, upon movement of the printing head to the latched printing position. The bail bar 201 is also operative to maintain the alignment of the code wheels throughout the printing operation.

Referring now to FIGS. 9, 9A and 10, the code wheel frame plates 126 and 127 are seen to have a bail bar member 261 mounted for longitudinal movement therein by two pair of links 262 and 203. The links 283 are each pivotally mounted on a shaft 206 extending transversely of the frame 126, 127, the shaft being located in the lower portion of the frame behind the code wheels 63. Similarly, the links 202 are pivotally connected to the bail bar member 201. The bail bar member 201 has a generally V-shaped nose portion 207 which is engageable in a generally aligned group of recesses 156 in the adjacent code wheels. Upon engagement, the bail bar re-positions the code wheels slightly and accurately aligns the uppermost printing elements of these code wheels at the printing position. A pair of coil springs 208 are seated at their opposite ends on the bail bar member 201 and on a plate 209 which is mounted within the frame plates 126 and 127. The springs 208 normally bias the bail bar member 201 to the position illustrated in FIG. 9 wherein the nose portion 207 of the bail bar is engaged in the recesses 156 in the code wheels. This position is that assumed whenever the printing head is latched in printing position on the base.

Cam and lever means are incorporated with this bail bar mechanism for moving the bail bar to a retracted position to permit free rotation of the code wheels by the keys 55 whenever the printing head is in the upper, nonprinting position. As shown in phantom outline in FIG. 10, these cam and lever means comprise a cam 221 mounted on the rod 76 for rotation therewith. These means also include a lever 212 which is pivo-tally mounted at 213 between the frame plates 127 and 128 and which is engageable at its lower end with the bail bar member 201. As viewed in FIG. 10, the cam 221 is rotated to a position wherein the cam is spaced from the lever 212 with the printing head in the latched position. However, upon movement of the printing head tothe upper position the cam 221 is rotated into engagement with the upper end of the lever 212 and rotates the lever in a counterclockwise direction to retract the nose portion 207 from the recesses 156 by compressing the springs 203 and rotating the parallel linkages 202 and 203 in a clockwise direction about the pivots 204 and 206.

The bail bar 201 and the detent-receiving apertures 156 in the code wheels 63 afford a precise positioning mechanism for the type wheels. However, the type wheels should be quite close to accurate alignment before the bail bar engages the type wheels; otherwise, the nose portion 207 of the bail bar may fail to engage in one or more of the detent-receiving apertures, and an inaccurate printing operation may result. Consequently, it is desirable to afford a pre-alignment mechanism to position the type wheels 63 quite close to the ultimate printing position before the final alignment is effected by the bail bar.

The pro-alignment mechanism, illustrated in FIGS. 9A and 10, comprises a pro-alignment bail member 250 that is pivotally mounted on the spacer rod 128A immediately below the code wheels 63. The bail member 250 is generally channel-shaped, and is provided with an upwardly extending portion 251 that terminates in a bail bar nose portion 252. The nose portion 252 of the bail member 250 extends across all of the rack members 151 and is aligned with a series of bail-receiving apertures 253 in the lower surface of each rack member. On each rack member there is one aperture 253 for each printing element 170 on the type wheel with which the rack member is associated. Suitable spring means, such as a spring 254, are provided to bias the bail member 250 in a clckwise direction, as seen in FIG. 10, maintaining the bail bar nose portion 252 in engagement with the rack memhere.

The end of the bail member 250 opposite the nose portion 252 extends beyond the spacer 128A, terminating in a cam follower portion 255. An extension 256 is provided on each of the two links 202. Between these extensions a cam member 257 is mounted in position to engage the cam follower portion 255 of the bail member 250.

As noted above, each time the printing head of the machine is moved to its elevated non-printing position the cam 221 rotaes the lever 212 counterclockwise, moving the bail bar member 201 to the right as seen in FIGS. 9, 9A and 10. This rotates the links 202 in a clockwise direction about the pivot 204. The pivotal movement of the links 202 brings the cam member 257 into engagement with the follower portion 255 of the pre-alignment bail member 250, rotating the bail member in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot 128A. As a result, the bail bar portion 252 of the member 250 is disengaged from the rack members 151, leaving the rack members free to move in the selection of a new monetary amount (or other variable data).

When a new monetary amount has been selected and a printing operation is to be effected, the printing head is lowered toward printing position. This permits the bail bar member 201 to start moving toward the type wheels, in response to the biasing force of springs 208, and allows the links 202 to pivot in a counterclockwise direction. The pivotal movement of the links 202 releases the cam member 257 from engagement with the pre-alignment bail 250, which rotates clockwise and again brings the bail bar portion 252 into engagement with selected notches 253 in the rack members 151. The pro-alignment bail member engages the wheel-positioning rack members before the main bail bar 201 engages the type wheels, and is effective to align the type wheels accurately enough to assure precise operation of the main bail bar in engaging the wheel recesses 156.

To initiate operation of the machine, the printing device is positioned in the form-mounting fixture as illustrated in FIG. 1. The monetary amount of the transaction is set and indicated by positioning keys 66 adjacent the corresponding numerals on the control panel and thereby rotating the code wheels 63 through the rack and pinion mechanism described hereinabove. The amount (or other variable data) selected, is visually indicated through the windows 69, minimizing the possibility of setting an incorrect figure. A form 72 is removed from the storage bin 71 and positioned at the printing station by means of the gauges 48 and 49, the guide member 47, and the corner bracket 46. The printing head 33 is moved downwardly, engaging the latching pawls 103 and 104 with the corresponding lugs 118 and 117 on the base; this movement of the printing head also enables the springs 208 to move the bail bar 201 into the detents 156 and align the variable data imprinting wheels 63. The platen roller 86 is then rolled across the upper surface of the form as 72 to imprint the form with the fixed and variable data set up at the printing station. At the completion of the printing movement of the platen roller, the roller engages one of the pawl members and releases the printing head from the base. The return spring 124 then returns the printing head to the upper position illustrated in FIG. 1. The upward movement of the printing head retracts the bail bar 201 positively from the recesses 156 of the code wheels, and the keys 66 may thereafter be returned to the lower positions as illustrated in FIG. 1. The form and the customers printing device are then removed from the mounting fixture.

In FIG. 18 there is illustrated a typical form 72 imprinted with data in the manner described above. The form 72 thus imprinted contains the customers name and account number, in both numerical and code form as illustrated, as well as the vendor identification data and the date of the transaction. It should be noted that the customers signature is located in the lower left-hand corner of the form to eliminate stray writing in the coded area. Additionally, the monetary amount of the transaction is clearly and distinctly imprinted in the upper right-hand corner of the form, as viewed in FIG. 18. This amount is printed in both numeral and code form so that the printed form may be utilized effectively in an automatic sorting and computing system.

In those instances where the code data imprinted on the record form are to be sensed and interpreted by automatic means, such as a photoelectric. sensing device, it

is highly important that the data be accurately located on the record form. The printing machine 31, as thus far described, affords exceptional accuracy in achieving the requisite precise positioning of the data on the record forms, insofar as operation of the printing mechanism is concerned. On the other hand, some difficulty may be experienced in maintaining the record forms 72 in accurate position on the base 32 of the printing machine. FIGS. 26-29 illustrate an improved form-positioning means which may be incorporated in the machine 31 to assure precise positioning of the record forms at the printing station 44 of the printing machine.

FIGS. 26 and 27 afford plan and bottom views, respectively, of an improved form-aligning fixture or gauge assembly 441 which may be substituted for the formmounting fixture 41 in the previously described embodiment of the invention. In general, the gauge assembly 441 is similar to the fixture 41 and includes a base plate 443 that is mounted on the base 32 of the machine in the position illustrated in FIG. 1 and in the place of the fixture 41. The gauge assembly base plate 443 is provided with a central aperture 442 at the printing station, through which the anvils 56 and 61, the dater 62, and the code wheels 63 project (see FIG. 26).

At the upper left-hand corner of the base plate 443 as seen in FIG. 26, a gauge member 444 is pivotally mounted upon a shaft 445, the shaft 445 being mounted by suitable means in the base member 443. A torsion spring 446 is mounted on the shaft 445 in engagement with the gauge member 444 and biases the gauge member 444 upwardly of the base member 443. The gauge member 444 is provided with a pair of lugs or ears 447 which engage the lower surface of the base member 443 to limit upward movement of the gauge member (see FIG. 27). At the opposite side of the gauge assembly 441, a second gauge member 448 is mounted in the base 443, being pivotally supported upon a shaft 449. The gauge member 448 is biased upwardly of the base of the gauge assembly by suitable means such as a torsion spring 451 essentially similar to the spring 446. The two gauge members 444 and 448 are usually referred to as the rear gauges of the printing machine.

In addition to the gauge members 444 and 448, the form-aligning gauge assembly 441 includes a pair of front gauge members 452 and 453. The gauge member 452 is located at the left front corner of the gauge assembly (FIG. 26) and is pivotally mounted upon a shaft 454. The gauge member 452 is generally L-shaped in configuration and includes a sensing arm 456 which extends upwardly through an aperture 457 located at the left edge of the printing station in the gauge assembly 441, as seen from the top. A torsion spring 455 is mounted on the shaft 454 and biases the gauge member 452 toward rotational movement, about the shaft 454, urging the sensing portion 456 of the gauge member upwardly of the base 443 of the gauge assembly. The other front gauge member 453 is similar in construction and is mounted upon a shaft 458 in the base 443. The gauge member 453 is also provided with a sensing extension 459 which projects upwardly through an aperture 461 in the base 443. A torsion spring 462 biases the member 453 to maintain the sensing portion 459 projecting above the base 443.

The gauge assembly 441 further includes a printing device spring gauge 464 that is mounted on the lower side of the base member 443 (see FIG. 27). The spring gauge 464 includes a pair of spring arms 465 and 466 which project along the surface of the gauge assembly base and terminate in a pair of upwardly extending lugs or gauge elements 467 and 468, respectively. The gauge elements 467 and 468 extend through the central aperture 442 in the gauge assembly base as best shown in FIG. 26.

Operation of the gauge assembly 441 is most readily understandable by reference to FIGS. 28 and 29. In

FIG. 28, the rear gauge member 444 and the front gauge member 452 are shown in their starting positions at the beginning of a printing operation. When a form is placed in the machine, preparatory to a printing operation, the form is disposed in the position indicated by the phantom outline 72A with one edge of the form engaging the rear gauge member 444. The same edge of the form also engages the other rear gauge member 448 (see FIG. 26). A suitable printing device 54 is held in position by engagement with the gauge 468, disposed on the anvil 56. It should be noted that the form 72A is free at either its front or back edge, being shown free at its forward edge in FIG. 28, this being the edge adjacent the front gauge members 452 and 453. The two sensing portions 456 and 459 of the front gauge members (FIG, 26) are disposed outside of the area covered by the record form.

When the printing head 33 is lowered toward printing position, as described hereinabove, the mask 98 on the lower surface of the printing head first reaches the position indicated in FIG. 28 by the phantom outline 98A. At this point, the mask engages the rear gauge member 444 and its counterpart at the opposite side of the machine, member 448, and begins to depress these two members into the hollow interior of the base 443. The downward movement of the member 444 has a tendency to push the rear edge of the form 72A downwardly but does not move the form laterally of the fixture 441, since the forward or gauge surface 471 of the gauge member is an arc centered about the axis of the shaft 445 about which the gauge member pivots. The same construction is used with respect to the other gauge member 448 at the opposite side of the printing machine.

Continued downward movement of the printing head brings the mask to the position indicated by the phantom line 9813 in FIG. 28, at which point the mask engages the sensing portion 456 of the front gauge member 452. Thereafter, continued downward movement of the printing head causes the front gauge member 452 to pivot in a counterclockwise direction about the shaft 454. A corresponding movement is imparted to the other front gauge member 453 at the opposite side of the printing machine (see FIG. 26).

The pivotal movement of the two front gauge members drives the gauge members toward the final printing position illustrated in FIG. 29, which is reached when the printing head is completely lowered to its printing position. As shown therein, the form 72A has been engaged by the front gauge member 452 and pushed against the rear gauge member 444, and specifically against the surface 471 thereof. Buckling of the record form is controlled by engagement with the mask 98, small portions of the mask being shown in printing position in FIG. 29. The jogging or aligning action of the front gauge member 452, and its companion gauge member 453 (FIG. 26) assures precise location of the record form at the printing station of the machine and eliminates possible errors which might arise if alignment of the form were left entirely to static gauges or to the skill of the machine operator. As indicated in FIGS. 28 and 29, the mask of the printing head engages the spring gauge element 468 of the gauge member 464 and pushes it downwardly into the base of the positioning fixture 441 prior to the printing operation. The other portion of the spring gauge 464 is also moved downwardly in the same way upon lowering of the printing head to its printing position. This is done to prevent capture of the form 72A between the head of the printing machine and the gauge 464 before the form is registered against the gauge members 444 and 448. Of course, as soon as the printing head is returned to its elevated non-printing position, as described above, the gauge members return to their initial operating positions as illustrated in FIGS. 26 and 28.

The gauge 468 also accomplishes an aligning action on the credit card 54. The credit card is loosely disposed between the tip of gauge 468 and one of the surfaces 

1. A PRINTING MACHINE COMPRISING: A BASE AFFORDING A SUPPORT FOR A PRINTING DEVICE BEARING DATA TO BE PRINTED; A PRINTING HEAD MOUNTED ON SAID BASE, SAID PRINTING HEAD INCLUDING A PLATEN MOVABLE ALONG THE PRINTING HEAD FOR IMPRINTING SUCH DATA ON A FORM INTERPOSED BETWEEN THE BASE AND PRINTING HEAD; MEANS, MOUNTED IN THE BASE, AFFORDING SELECTIVELY VARIABLE DATA TO BE IMPRINTED ON SAID FORM AND INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF ROTATABLE TYPE WHEELS COAXIALLY MOUNTED IN ADJACENT RELATION TO EACH OTHER, EACH OF SAID TYPE WHEELS HAVING A PLURALITY OF PRINTING ELEMENTS SPACED ABOUT THE PERIPHERY OF THE WHEEL; MANUALLY OPERABLE SELECTOR MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID WHEELS INDIVIDUALLY TO PRESENT SELECTED PRINTING ELEMENTS FOR PRINTING; ALIGNING MEANS MOVABLE INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH ALL OF THE 